Report: Trump Considering France’s Bailout Plan for Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump answers questions from the news media in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, U.S., September 11, 2019. REUTERS/Leah Millis

President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a proposal from French President Emmanuel Macron to provide a $15 billion dollar bailout to Iran in exchange for complying with the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, the Daily Beast reported on Sept 11.

The Daily Beast report explains that Macron’s plan would involve a guaranteed line of credit from oil sales – which is the lifeblood of the Iranian economy – as well as provide Iran with waivers from the Trump administration’s sanctions against the regime.

The report goes on to say that “several sources” believe that Trump has recently “shown openness” toward Macron’s proposal and will eventually “either agree to cooperate on the French deal or to offer to ease some sanctions on Tehran.”

According to Bloomberg, Trump decided to fire White House National Security Adviser John Bolton after Bolton argued against easing sanctions on Tehran to get a meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani; Bolton maintains that he resigned. Bolton’s departure has resulted in reported unease from the Israeli government that a Trump-Rouhani meeting could actually materialize, as the Israeli government’s policy toward Iran involves “isolating and economically clobbering” the regime, per Bloomberg.

Bloomberg also noted that a Trump-Rouhani meeting could put Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a bind since Trump “has delivered Netanyahu several long-sought diplomatic coups, such as recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and Israeli sovereignty over the war-won Golan Heights.” Consequently, Netanyahu can’t be as vocally critical of Trump as he was of Barack Obama, Bloomberg states.

Trump told reporters on Wednesday “we’ll see what happens” on whether he would reduce the sanctions in Iran if it means he’ll get a meeting Rouhani. The White House has maintained that Bolton’s departure doesn’t signal a change from their policy of “maximum pressure” against Iran.